Question
I’m 6 months pregnant. Is it safe to delay starting treatment?
5 February 2018. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, South Africa, Starting treatment.
I am 6 months pregnant and have just tested positive. My CD4 count is 256. I have to start now.
I didn’t get much info as I thought I am doing it for my baby but I find it difficult to deal with the fact that I have developed AIDS, and have to start treatment.
My question is, will it be dangerous for me to delay taking the treatment for myself and only take the one for the baby. Since I think it was my emotional state that made my CD to be low.
I am very healthy and eat well. Please advise.
Answer
Firstly, congratulations on your pregnancy.
I am sorry about your recent HIV diagnosis. I can appreciate that it cannot be easy dealing with a diagnosis during pregnancy and then knowing that you need to start taking treatment straight away. Can I ask if your doctor has put you in contact with support groups for people living with HIV? Many women find it helpful sharing experiences and coping with being HIV positive and pregnant.
Technically, a CD4 count of 256 doe not mean you have ‘AIDS’ as the US defines this as being less than 200, but it does mean starting treatment is very important.
Your doctor is giving you good advice. Starting treatment (ART) straight away is important.
The WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines recommends all HIV positive pregnant women start ART. This is regardless of the CD4 count. These meds will be good for your health and good for your baby. The meds should get your viral load to undetectable befire your baby is born. Sometimes this takes longer than three months.
Viral load refers to the amount of virus in your body. An undetectable viral load (below 50 copies) means that there is very little virus in your body and is therefore the best way of preventing transmission to the baby.
Continuing ART afterwards is also recommended, but should be discussed with your doctor. As your CD4 count is 256, it is better to continue taking treatment after the baby is born.
The good news is that ART should increase your CD4 count. Although sometimes if you start taking treatment in pregnancy your CD4 count may not increase very much. If this happens, don’t worry, your CD4 count will catch up after the baby is born. For more information on HIV and pregnancy, please follow this link to our guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health. The guide also answers a lot of general questions about HIV and pregnancy.
It is good that you eat well and lead a healthy lifestyle. Avoiding stress, eating a balanced diet and taking exercise are all good for your general health and well being. However, this will not necessarily increase your CD4 count. ARVs are the only proven way of increasing and maintaining a good CD4 count.
As you are based in South Africa, you may find it useful to contact TAC (Treatment Action Campaign). They will be able to put you in contact with support groups near you. You may also find it useful to read TAC’s guide to Pregnancy in our lives.
Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy.
Note: This answer was updated in February 2018 from a question first posted online in April 2012.
Hi Sethabiso, great that you were diagnosed in time to start treatment. If you viral load in undetectable when you give birth – and this is very likely – then the risk to your baby becomes very low. Your bby is much more likely to not have HIV. See this guide for more infromation.
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
I need different advices. I found out that i am 5 monts pregnant and i am hiv positive and my cd4 count is 205. Yes i started treatment is possible for to be born hiv negetive?
Hi Thando, if your viral load ws undetectable when you gave birth, it is much more likely that your baby will not have HIV. Please talk to your doctor about which tests are available at your clinic. A negative viral load test will show now whther your baby has HIV. If you only have access to an HI antibody test, this will only be accurate after two years. Please ask your doctor to explain this – or better still talk with other positive women who have had a baby.
Hi. I found out that I’m hiv+ when I was 4months pregnant with a cd4 count of 179 and started treatment right away. When I gave birth my cd4 count was 166. My baby tested negative at birth, will he test positive in future.
Hi Mkhize, I you are worried about HIV it is important to test now. If you are positive the HIV meds will protect both you and your baby. If you don’t get tested and leave it too late, your baby could become HIV positive. The meds could stop this.
i hv 5 mouth pregnant but did go to the clinic becouse am scarde of hiv if you thnk my child will be affected about that?
Hi Rapelang
What has the doctor told you partner? Anyone who is prescribed medical treatment has a right to understand what the treatment is for. Please speak to the doctor about this. If this is related to HIV then you partenr has been very lucky to have been diagnosed and put on treatment in time.
My partner had pcp and they gave him arv for treatment so we are confused does it mean he has hiv?
Hi Ashly, how are you doing? It is fine to be a bit late or early with meds – any time within a couple of hours is all good. It is still best to aim for the same time to get into a good habit. Your baby will not have been affected at all by this.
I am 4 months pregnant wth HIV. i used to take ARV around eight oclock bt today i forget it i jst take it by half pass eight. Can my baby get deliver wth hiv because of me?